First published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
14 December 2008
14 December 2008
Top of Her Game
MAX KOH was enthralled by theatre heavyweight Faridah Merican’s performance in Bottom Top.
Mark and Faridah in Bottom Top.
THE name, Faridah Merican, is synonymous with local theatre. Referred by some as the First Lady of Malaysian Theatre, her contribution to the industry is immeasurable.
For 50 years, she has dabbled in the theatre scene by acting, directing and producing works. She and husband Joe Hasham founded The Actors Studio and are still the power couple in the local theatre scene.
However, it has been some time since Faridah charmed the crowd onstage.
So, hearing of her return to the limelight in Bottom Top, a play written by Mark Beau de Silva and directed by Hasham, was surely a must-see event.
It came as no surprise that tickets for the show were quickly snatched up.
I was mesmerised by the quaint and detailed set which depicted the couple’s home. It was warm and indicative of the mother and son’s relationship in the play.
Faridah played 52-year-old Bertha who was about to remarry. The 90-minute play saw Bertha having a funny but poignant discussion with her gay son, Melvin, as they prepared the guest list for the wedding.
When Bertha tried to get Melvin to invite his “special friend” to the wedding, he educated her on the social construct of his world.
Dressed in sexual innuendos and delightful wordplay, the observations of his world where mates were judged to be “bottom” or “top” was unravelled gracefully.
The subject could have come across as crude if not for Mark Beau’s script and the chemistry between the playwright and Faridah.
Watching Faridah for the first time, I was enthralled.
That was not to say that Mark Beau was not incredible himself.
Both actors imbued the characters with endearing presence, breathing life into them, making the audience feel like they were not merely eavesdropping but are part of the conversation.
There were laugh-out-loud moments in the play including a part where the disco lights were lowered, and Bertha delighted the audience with a bit of booty-shaking.
However, the play turned solemn at times as we pondered with the characters about relationships, social roles and love.
Bottom Top was a delightful comedy with acute contemplations on matters of the heart.
Faridah’s return to the stage was nothing short of breathtaking and certainly whetted my appetite for more of her stage skills.
For 50 years, she has dabbled in the theatre scene by acting, directing and producing works. She and husband Joe Hasham founded The Actors Studio and are still the power couple in the local theatre scene.
However, it has been some time since Faridah charmed the crowd onstage.
So, hearing of her return to the limelight in Bottom Top, a play written by Mark Beau de Silva and directed by Hasham, was surely a must-see event.
It came as no surprise that tickets for the show were quickly snatched up.
I was mesmerised by the quaint and detailed set which depicted the couple’s home. It was warm and indicative of the mother and son’s relationship in the play.
Faridah played 52-year-old Bertha who was about to remarry. The 90-minute play saw Bertha having a funny but poignant discussion with her gay son, Melvin, as they prepared the guest list for the wedding.
When Bertha tried to get Melvin to invite his “special friend” to the wedding, he educated her on the social construct of his world.
Dressed in sexual innuendos and delightful wordplay, the observations of his world where mates were judged to be “bottom” or “top” was unravelled gracefully.
The subject could have come across as crude if not for Mark Beau’s script and the chemistry between the playwright and Faridah.
Watching Faridah for the first time, I was enthralled.
That was not to say that Mark Beau was not incredible himself.
Both actors imbued the characters with endearing presence, breathing life into them, making the audience feel like they were not merely eavesdropping but are part of the conversation.
There were laugh-out-loud moments in the play including a part where the disco lights were lowered, and Bertha delighted the audience with a bit of booty-shaking.
However, the play turned solemn at times as we pondered with the characters about relationships, social roles and love.
Bottom Top was a delightful comedy with acute contemplations on matters of the heart.
Faridah’s return to the stage was nothing short of breathtaking and certainly whetted my appetite for more of her stage skills.
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